Navigation system and navigation method of electronic device

ABSTRACT

An electronic device ( 3 ) includes: a facility genre setting part ( 302 ) that displays first route information from a departure position to a destination, and sends a genre of facilities at which a user wants to stop to a navigation server ( 1 ); a facility setting part ( 303 ) that scrollably displays facility information of all facilities belonging to the genre that are located in the vicinity on the first route and an expected arrival time received from the navigation server ( 1 ), for every time span of the expected arrival time, and sends a facility selected by the user from among the plurality of facilities to the navigation server ( 1 ); and a route guidance part ( 304 ) that displays second route information received from the navigation server ( 1 ) in which the facility selected by the user is registered as a relay point.

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2013-236068, filed on 14 Nov. 2013, thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a navigation system and a navigationmethod of an electronic device that present to the user facilities thatare in the middle of a route to a destination.

2. Related Art

Conventionally, in the case of traveling by automobile or on foot to adestination, technology that performs navigation (hereinafter alsoreferred to as “route guidance”) using an electronic device such as amobile telephone and smart phone has been realized.

While the user is traveling to the destination, there are needs for theuser to stop in the middle of the route for meals, convenience stores,restrooms, refueling of gasoline, recharging, etc. Various technologiesfor responding to such needs have been developed.

As the most common technology, there is technology whereby an electronicdevice searches and presents facilities that are in the vicinity of acurrent location in response to a request from the user. However, theelectronic device can only search and present facilities that are in thevicinity of a current location. The electronic device has not been ableto respond to the needs of a user like “want a meal after 2 hours”, forexample.

In order to respond to such needs of the user, technology has beendisclosed whereby, upon the user performing navigation (route guidance)using the electronic device, the electronic device prompts the user toinput a designated time, specifies a location on the route that will bereached at this designated time, and then does a facility search in thevicinity of the specified location (for example, refer to PatentDocument 1).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, PublicationNo. 2005-300225

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operations forthe user are complicated since it is necessary for the user to input adesignated time in the electronic device. Furthermore, the user has onlybeen able to read limited information like facilities in the vicinity ofthe location reached at the designated time.

In the case of there being few facilities due to the vicinity of thislocation being in the suburbs, since inevitably only a few facilitiescan be presented, the electronic device cannot present informationcorresponding to the designated time of the user that can satisfy theuser. As a result thereof, the options for facilities of the user havebeen narrow.

While traveling to the destination, in the case of the user selecting afacility at which to stop in the middle of a route, it is desirable forthe user to be able to decide the facility at which to stop, uponvisually comparing the time span of use and extent of attraction to thefacility. For example, in the case of the user considering “want a mealat about 7 PM”, between a shop with an arrival estimate of about 7 PMand a shop with an arrival estimate of about 8 PM, the attractiveness ofa shop may be higher for the shop with the arrival estimate of about 8PM. in such a case, it is possible for the user to decide to have a mealat the shop arrived at about 8 PM.

However, with the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, theelectronic device cannot present options like those enabling a user tocomparatively consider facilities at which to stop in the middle of aroute extending over different arrival time spans.

As stated above, a conventional electronic device has not been able toperform the presentation of more options extending over different timespans for the needs of a user to stop at facilities in the middle oftraveling to a destination.

The present invention has been made taking such problems into account.The present invention has an object of providing a navigation system anda navigation method for an electronic device that, upon a userperforming navigation (route guidance) using an electronic device,enable the electronic device to perform the provision of more options,for facilities existing on a searched route, extending over differenttime spans to the user by performing a simple operation.

By configuring in this way, it is possible for a user himself/herself torefine facilities to be candidates from among the many options extendingover different time spans presented by the electronic device. Byconfiguring in this way, it is an object to provide a navigation systemand a navigation method for an electronic device that enable thesatisfaction level of the user to be raised.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a navigationsystem (e.g., the navigation system 100 described later) includes anelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 3 described later) thatperforms navigation from a departure position to a destination; and aserver (e.g., the navigation server 1 and facility information server 2described later) that is communicably connected with the electronicdevice, in which the server includes: a storage unit (e.g., the storageunit 21 described later) that stores facility information; a facilitysearch unit (e.g., the facility search part 102 described later) thatsearches, from among facilities located in the vicinity on a first routefrom a departure position to a destination, for a facility belonging toa genre received from the electronic device, using the facilityinformation saved in the storage unit, calculates an expected arrivaltime for all facilities found, and sends the facility information of thefacility belonging to the genre and the expected arrival time to theelectronic device; and a second route calculation unit (e.g., the secondroute calculation part 103 described later) that calculates second routeinformation from the departure position to the destination thatregisters a facility selected by a user and received from the electronicdevice as a relay point, and sends the second route information to theelectronic device, and in which the electronic device includes: adisplay unit (e.g., the display unit 34 described later); a facilitygenre setting unit (e.g., the facility genre setting part 302 describedlater) that sends a genre selected by the user to the server; a facilitysetting unit (e.g., the facility setting part 303 described later) thatdisplays facility information of all facilities belonging to the genrethat are located in the vicinity on the first route and an expectedarrival time at the facility, received from the server, for every timespan of the expected arrival time, via the display unit to bescrollable; and a route guidance unit (e.g., the route guidance part 304described later) that displays the second route information from thedeparture position to the destination received from the server in whichthe facility selected by the user is registered as a relay point, on thedisplay unit.

With the navigation system of the first aspect, the facility settingunit of the electronic device displays facility information of allfacilities belonging to the genre selected by the user located in thevicinity on the first route from the departure position to thedestination and the expected arrival time at the facility, for everytime span of the expected arrival time, via the display unit to bescrollable.

It is thereby possible for the electronic device to present morefacilities extending over different time spans to the user, forfacilities existing on a searched route, upon the user performingnavigation (route guidance) using the electric device. The user canselect a preferred facility from more options, and the satisfaction ofthe user improves by registering as relay points (stopping points) on aroute to the destination.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an electronicdevice (e.g., the electronic device 3 described later) that performsnavigation from a departure position to a destination includes: adisplay unit (e.g., the display unit 34 described later); a facilitygenre setting unit (e.g., the facility genre setting part 302 describedlater) that displays first route information from the departure positionto the destination on the display unit, and sends to a servercommunicably connected with the electronic device, a genre of facilitiesinput by a user; a facility setting unit (e.g., the facility settingpart 303 described later) that displays facility information of allfacilities belonging to the genre, located in the vicinity on the firstroute, and an expected arrival time at the facility, received from theserver for every time span of the expected arrival time via the displayunit to be scrollable, and sends a facility selected by the user fromamong a plurality of facilities to the server; and a route guidance unit(e.g., the route guidance part 304 described later) that displays secondroute information from the departure position to the destinationreceived from the server in which the facility selected by the user isregistered as a relay point, on the display unit.

According to the electronic device of the second aspect, for facilitieslocated in the vicinity on the first route to the destination, it ispossible for the electronic device to present to the user morefacilities extending over different time spans by performing a simpleoperation. The user can select a preferred facility from more options,and a second route registering this as a relay point (stopping point) ona route to the destination can be displayed.

The satisfaction of the user is thereby improved since a preferredfacility and preferred time span are selected from the facilitiesexisting on the searched route, and with the facility selected by theuser on the route to the destination as a relay point (stopping point),second route information is presented to arrive in the time spanselected by the user, upon the user performing navigation (routeguidance) using the electronic device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a program causes acontrol unit (e.g., the control unit 30 described later) of anelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 3 described later) thatincludes the control unit and a display unit (e.g., the display unit 34described later) to function as: a genre facility genre setting unit(e.g., the facility genres setting part 302 described later) thatdisplays first route information from a departure position to adestination on the display unit, and sends a genre of facilities inputby a user to a server; a facility setting unit (e.g., the facilitysetting part 303 described later) that scrollably displays, via thedisplay unit, facility information of all facilities belonging to thegenre located in the vicinity on the first route and an expected arrivaltime at the facility received from the server, for every time span ofthe expected arrival time, and sends a facility selected by the userfrom among a plurality of the facilities to the server; and a routeguidance unit (e.g., the route guidance part 304 described later) thatdisplays second route information from the departure position to thedestination received from the server in which a facility selected by theuser is registered as a relay point, on the display unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a navigationmethod by an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 3 describedlater) including a control unit (e.g., the control unit 30 describedlater) and a display unit (e.g., the display unit 34 described later)includes the steps of the control unit: displaying first routeinformation from a departure position to a destination on the displayunit, and sending a genre of facilities input by a user to a server(e.g., Step S104 to Step S108 described later); scrollably displaying,via the display unit, facility information of all facilities belongingto the genre located in the vicinity on the first route and an expectedarrival time at the facility received from the server, for every timespan of the expected arrival time, and sending a facility selected bythe user from among a plurality of the facilities to the server (e.g.,Step S109 to Step S112 described later); and displaying second routeinformation from the departure position to the destination received fromthe server in which a facility selected by the user is registered as arelay point (e.g., Step S113 described later).

The same effects as the electronic device of the second aspect areexerted according to the program of the third aspect or the method ofthe fourth aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a server (e.g.,the navigation server 1 and facility information server 2 describedlater) that performs navigation from a departure position to adestination includes: a storage unit (e.g., the storage unit 21described later) that stores facility information; a facility searchunit (e.g., the facility search part 102 described later) that searches,from among facilities located in the vicinity on a first route from adeparture position to a destination, for a facility belonging to a genrereceived from an electronic device communicably connected with theserver, using the facility information saved in the storage unit,calculates an expected arrival time for all facilities found, and sendsthe facility information of the facility and the expected arrival timeto the electronic device; and a second route calculation unit (e.g., thesecond route calculation part 103 described later) that calculatessecond route information from the departure position to the destinationthat registers a facility selected by a user and received from theelectronic device as a relay point, and sends the second routeinformation to the electronic device.

According to the server of the fifth embodiment, it is possible toprovide a service to the electronic device communicably connected withthe server whereby, for facilities located in the vicinity on the firstroute to the destination, the electronic device presents more facilitiesextending over different time periods to the user, and a second route isdisplayed in which a preferred facility selected from among more optionsby the user is registered as a relay point (stopping point) on the routeto the destination.

The satisfaction of the user is thereby improved since the serverprompts the user to select a preferred facility from the facilitiesexisting on a route found and a preferred time span, and presents secondroute information to arrive in the time span selected by the user, inwhich a facility selected by the user is registered as a relay point(stopping point) on the route to the destination, upon the userperforming navigation (route guidance) using the electronic devicecommunicably connected with the server.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a program causes acontrol unit (e.g., the controls units 10 and 20 described later) of aserver (e.g., the navigation server 1 and the facility informationserver 2 described later) that includes the control unit and a storageunit (e.g., the storage unit 21 described later) storing facilityinformation, to function as: a facility search unit (e.g., the facilitysearch part 102 described later) that searches, from among facilitieslocated in the vicinity on a first route from a departure position to adestination, for facilities belonging to a genre received from anelectronic device communicably connected with the server, using thefacility information saved in the storage unit, calculates an expectedarrival time for each facility found, and sends facility information ofthe facility and the expected arrival time to the electronic device; anda second route calculation unit (e.g., the second route calculation part103 described later) that calculates second route information from thedeparture position to the destination that registers a facility selectedby a user and received from the electronic device as a relay point, andsends the second route information to the electronic device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a navigationmethod by a server (e.g., the navigation server 1 and facilityinformation server 2 described later) that includes a control unit(e.g., the control units 10 and 20 described later) and a storage unit(e.g., the storage unit 21 described later) storing facilityinformation, includes the steps of the control unit: searching, fromamong facilities located in the vicinity on a first route from adeparture position to a destination, for facilities belonging to a genrereceived from an electronic device communicably connected with theserver, using the facility information saved in the storage unit,calculating an expected arrival time for each facility found, andsending facility information of the facility and the expected arrivaltime to the electronic device (e.g., Step S204 to Step S206 describedlater); and calculating second route information from the departureposition to the destination that registers a facility selected by a userand received from the electronic device as a relay point, and sendingthe second route information to the electronic device (e.g., Step S207to Step S208 described later).

The same effects as the server of the fifth aspect are exerted accordingto the program of the sixth aspect or the method of the seventh aspect.

According to the present invention, it is made possible for anelectronic device to present a user with more options for facilitiesexisting on a searched route extending over different time spans,despite being a simple operation, upon the user performing navigation(route guidance) using the electronic device. Then, by the userhimself/herself refining the time span and candidate facilities fromamong the many options presented by the electronic device, theelectronic device makes it possible to raise the satisfaction level ofthe user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the system configuration of a navigation system100;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the configurations of servers;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the configuration of an electronic device;

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the navigationsystem 100;

FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the navigationsystem 100;

FIG. 5A is a view showing an example of a screen displaying a firstroute from a current location to a destination displayed on theelectronic device;

FIG. 5B is a view showing an example of a screen to designate a genre offacilities for searching facilities existing on a searched routedisplayed on the electronic device;

FIG. 5C is a view showing an example of a facility candidate selectionscreen displaying facility candidates existing on a searched route forevery time span, displayed on the electronic device;

FIG. 5D is a view showing an example of a screen displaying details ofgoods and services contents provided by the facility candidates existingon a searched route, displayed on the electronic device;

FIG. 5E is a view showing an example of a screen for selecting afacility candidate existing on a searched route, and inputting a stayingtime at the facility;

FIG. 5F is a view showing an example of a screen displaying coupon usehistory of a user displayed on the electronic device; and

FIG. 5G is a view showing an example of a screen for a user to set inadvance genres to display on a screen (FIG. 5B) to designate the genreof facilities, displayed on the electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a navigation system of thepresent invention will be explained while referencing FIGS. 1 to 5G.

(Functional Configuration of Navigation System 100)

The functional configuration of the navigation system 100 according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system 100 is configured to include anavigation server 1, facility information server 2, electronic device 3,and facility server 4.

The navigation server 1 calculates and transmits an optimum route(guidance information) to the electronic device 3 based on the currentposition of the electronic device 3 and coordinate information of thedestination, as described later.

The facility information server 2 saves the type, name, etc. offacilities along with positional information, is connected with thenavigation server 1 by a connection interface unit 23, and transmitsinformation to the electronic device 3 via the navigation server 1. Thefacility information server 2 saves information of the vacancy conditionand reservation of facilities. It should be noted that facilityinformation is also generally called POI (Point of Interest).

In the embodiment of the present invention, although the navigationserver 1 and facility information server 2 are described as separateservers, the functions of the navigation server 1 and facilityinformation server 2 may be realized in one server. In addition, it maybe configured as a decentralized processing system that distributes therespective functions of the navigation server 1 and facility informationserver 2 to a plurality of servers as appropriate. In addition, therespective functions of the navigation server 1 and facility informationserver 2 may be realized using virtual server functions, etc. on acloud.

The electronic device 3 includes electronic devices having a wirelessfunction that is mobile telephone, smart phone, tablet terminal, PDA,portable navigation device, notebook computer, or other portableelectronic device. In addition, the electronic device 3 includes a carnavigation device built into a vehicle, PND, etc. Software fornavigation (route guidance) is installed in the electronic device 3, andconducts route guidance from the current position to the destinationbased on the request of the user.

It should be noted that the software for navigation (route guidance) maybe installed in advance. In addition, it may be appropriately downloadedas necessary when sending/receiving with the navigation server 1.

The facility server 4 sends/receives with the facility informationserver 2 via a network such as the internet, in order to synchronize inrelation to information related to its own facility, vacancyinformation, coupon issuance information, etc.

Next, the configurations of each will be explained.

(Navigation Server 1)

As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation server 1 at least includes a controlunit 10, storage unit 11, communication unit 12 and connection interfaceunit 13.

The control unit 10 is configured from a processor including a CPU, RAM,ROM, I/O, etc. The CPU executes each program for navigation read fromthe RAM, ROM or storage unit 11, reads information from the RAM, ROM andstorage unit 11 upon execution thereof, performs writing of informationin the RAM and storage unit 31, and performs transfer of signals withthe communication unit 12 and connection interface unit 13.

By the control unit 10 executing each program for navigation, it causesto function as a predetermined means (hereinafter collectively referredto as “navigation processing unit”) in the navigation server 1.

In addition, by the control unit 10 executing each program fornavigation, it causes predetermined steps (“hereinafter collectivelyreferred to as “navigation processing step”) to be executed in thenavigation server 1.

Hereinafter, the functions possessed by the control unit 10 will beexplained from the viewpoint of a navigation processing unit. It shouldbe noted that an explanation based on the viewpoint of a navigationprocessing step (method) is omitted since it is possible to explain bysubstituting “unit” for “step”.

The control unit 10 includes a first route calculation part 101,facility search part 102 and second route calculation part 103.

The first route calculation part 101 calculates a first route that is anoptimum route from the departure position to the destination, using mapinformation saved in the storage unit 11, based on positionalinformation that is the departure position and coordinate information ofthe destination, and departure time as an option, received from theelectronic device 3.

Herein, optimum route is the matter of a route best satisfying theintended conditions designated by the user, such as most shortenedarrival time, shortest distance, prioritizing local roads, prioritizingtoll roads, low fare for toll roads, etc., low CO₂ emissions, forexample.

The intended conditions may be decided by the first route calculationpart 101 in advance. In addition, the first route calculation part 101may set based on a selection instruction from the electronic device 3.

In addition, the first route calculation part 101 may calculate aplurality of routes from the departure position to the destination, anddecide a first route based on an instruction from the electronic device3 from among the plurality of routes.

The facility search part 102 extracts facility related information forall facilities belonging to the genre selected by the user located inthe vicinity on the first route, using a facility extraction part 201 ofthe facility information server 2 described later, and compiles theextracted facility related information.

Herein, the facility related information at least includes facilityinformation and the expected arrival time at the facility. The facilityinformation includes, for example, the identification information offacilities, name, genre, telephone number, address, positionalinformation specified by the latitude/longitude, for example,information related to goods and services provided by the facility,vacancy information, coupon issuance information, etc., as describedlater.

The facility search part 102 groups a plurality of facility relatedinformation located in the vicinity on the first route for every timespan of the expected arrival time.

Time spans of the expected arrival time, for example, indicates timespans based on 1 hour intervals like between 12 PM and 1 PM and between1 PM and 2 PM, or 30 minute intervals like between 12 PM and 12:30 PMand between 12:30 PM and 1 PM. Regarding what time interval to set thetime span, it may be set by the facility search part 102 in advance. Inaddition, the facility search part 102 may set the time span to 1-hourunits in the case of the required time needed from the departureposition to the place of arrival being long, and may set the time spanto 30-minute units in the case of the required time being short. Thefacility search part 102 may appropriately decide the time spanproportionally to the length of a required time needed from thedeparture position to the place of arrival. In addition, the facilitysearch part 102 may determine the time span based on an instruction formthe electronic device 3.

With the facility selected by the user and staying time for stopping atthe facility input by the user as additional conditions, the secondroute calculation part 103 calculates second route information using mapinformation saved in the storage unit 11, based on the positionalinformation of the departure position, coordinate information of thedestination, coordinate information of the facility selected by theuser, staying time at the facility, etc.

It should be noted that the second route is a route produced taking intoaccount of a short stop and staying time at a facility located in thevicinity on the first route, and the second route information includesthe expected arrival time at the facility and staying time.

The second route calculation part 103 requests registration processingon My Page of the user to the facility information server 2, in relationto a facility registered as a stopping point on the second route. Thesecond route calculation part 103 requests reservation processing forthe facility and payment processing in the facility information server2, according to the registration requirements on My Page of the user.

User information, map information, etc. of the electronic device 3 arestored in advance in the storage unit 11. In addition, trafficinformation received from a traffic information center is stored alongwith a recording time received in the storage unit 11. The number oftraveling vehicles for every link, required travel time, delayinformation, traffic control information, weather information, etc. areincluded in the traffic information, for example.

In addition, past traffic information of links, etc. is also recorded inthe storage unit 11.

Road network data, etc. including display map data for displaying abackground such as roads and road maps, positional information of nodes(for example, intersections, curves, dead ends, etc.) and classificationinformation thereof, positional information of links that are pathsconnecting between respective nodes and classification informationthereof, link toll data relating to toll information of all links (forexample, distance, required time, etc.) are included in the mapinformation.

The communication unit 12 is connected to a mobile telephone network,and conducts sending/receiving (data communication) of packet data, etc.with the electronic device 3 through a wireless base station that is notillustrated. It should be noted that, other than a mobile telephonenetwork, it may be a network for data communicating with the electronicdevice 3.

The connection interface unit 13 connects the navigation server 1 to thefacility information server 2. The navigation server 1 performssending/receiving of data with the facility information server 2 via theconnection interface unit 13.

(Facility Information Server)

As shown in FIG. 2, the facility information server 2 at least includesa control unit 20, storage unit 21, communication unit 22, andconnection interface unit 23.

The control unit 20 is configured from a processor having a CPU, RAM,ROM, I/O, etc. The CPU executes each program for facility informationsearch which was read from the RAM, ROM or storage unit 31, readsinformation from the RAM, ROM and storage unit 21 upon executionthereof, performs writing of information in the RAM and storage unit 21,and performs transfer of signals with the communication unit 22 andconnection interface unit 23.

By the control unit 20 executing each program for facility informationsearch, it causes to function as a predetermined means (hereinaftercollectively referred to as “facility information processing unit”) inthe facility information server 2.

In addition, by the control unit 20 executing each program for facilityinformation search, it causes predetermined steps (“hereinaftercollectively referred to as “facility information processing step”) tobe executed in the facility information server 2.

Hereinafter, the functions possessed by the control unit 20 will beexplained from the viewpoint of a facility information processing unit.It should be noted that an explanation based on the viewpoint of afacility information processing step (method) is omitted since it ispossible to explain by substituting “unit” for “step”.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 20 includes a facility extractionpart 201 and facility information registration part 202.

Based on the first route information received from the navigation server1 and facility genre information selected by the user, the facilityextraction part 201 extracts facility information of all facilitiesbelonging to the genre located in the vicinity on the first route, usingthe facility information saved in the storage unit 21.

Herein, located in the vicinity on the first route indicates the matterof being present in a predetermined distance range in which a short stopis possible, from the nearest point on the first route. A predeterminedvalue (for example, 100 m) is set in the facility extraction part 201.It should be noted that the predetermined distance range can be setbased on an instruction from the user.

The facility extraction part 201 stores nearest points on the firstroute corresponding to the candidate facilities for respective extractedcandidate facility information in the working memory of the storage unit21.

The facility extraction part 201 calculates an expected arrival timefrom the departure position for each of the extracted candidatefacilities. Herein, expected arrival time, for example, may becalculated using a value set as a default value of average vehiclespeed.

It should be noted that the processing to calculate the expected arrivaltime from the departure position for every extracted candidate facilitymay be established as processing of the navigation server 1.

It should be noted that the facility information includes, for example,the identification information of facilities, name, genre, telephonenumber, address, positional information specified by thelatitude/longitude, for example, information related to goods andservices provided by the facility, vacancy information, coupon issuanceinformation, etc., as described later.

The facility information registration part 202 stores facilitiesreceived from the navigation server 1 and registered as stopping pointson the second route, in a destination setting information column of MyPage for every user in the storage unit 21.

The facility information registration part 202 performs reservation atthe facility based on an instruction from the user. The facilityinformation registration part 202 accesses the facility server 4corresponding to the facility via the communication unit 22, andperforms the necessary reservation processing. On this occasion, billingprocessing related to an agent charge for reservation, etc. is performedas necessary.

The facility information registration part 202 stores this reservationinformation in My Page for every user, when reservation processing at aregistered facility is completed. The facility information registrationpart 202 notifies the electronic device 3 that the reservation hascompleted via the navigation server 1.

Facility information including the identificati information offacilities, name, genre, telephone number, address, positionalinformation specified by the latitude/longitude, for example,information related to goods and services provided by the facility,vacancy information, coupon issuance information, etc., is stored in thestorage unit 21.

In addition, reservation information showing the reservation conditionsat facilities for every user, coupon information showing the contents ofcoupons (discount ticket) offered by facilities, and My Page set forevery user of the electronic device 3 (destination setting informationcompiling destinations or facilities set as stopping places) are savedin the storage unit 21.

The communication unit 22 is connected to a network such as an Internetline, and conducts sending/receiving (data communication) of packetdata, etc. with the facility server 4.

The connection interface unit 23 connects the facility informationserver 2 to the navigation server 1. The facility information server 2performs sending/receiving of data with the navigation server 1 via theconnection interface unit 23.

(Electronic Device)

As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic device 3 at least includes a controlunit 30, storage unit 31, wireless unit 32, sensor unit 33, display unit34 and input unit 35.

The control unit 30 is configured from a microprocessor having a CPU,RAM, ROM, I/O, etc. The CPU executes each program for route guidanceread from the ROM or storage unit 31, reads information from the RAM,ROM and storage unit 31 upon execution thereof, performs writing ofinformation in the RAM and storage unit 31, and performs transfer ofsignals with the wireless unit 32, sensor unit 33, display unit 34 andinput unit 35.

By the control unit 30 executing each program for route guidance, itcauses to function as a predetermined means (hereinafter collectivelyreferred to as “route setting and guidance unit”) in the electronicdevice 3. For example, when starting each program for route guidance,route guidance that instructs turning while displaying the currentposition becomes possible using the positional information from thesensor unit 33.

In addition, by the control unit 30 executing each program for routeguidance, it causes a predetermined sequence (“hereinafter collectivelyreferred to as “route setting guidance sequence”) to be executed in theelectronic device 3.

Hereinafter, the functions possessed by the control unit 30 will beexplained from the viewpoint of a route setting and guidance unit. Itshould be noted that an explanation based on the viewpoint of a routeguidance sequence (method) is omitted since it is possible to explain bysubstituting “unit” for “sequence”.

The control unit 30 includes a first route setting part 301, facilitygenre setting part 302, facility setting part 303, and route guidancepart 304.

The first route setting part 301 displays to the user a screen forinputting the departure position, destination and departure time via thedisplay unit 34. On this occasion, the first route setting part 301specifies the current position (latitude and longitude) using the sensorunit 33, and default sets the current position as the departureposition. Similarly, the first route setting part 301 specifies thecurrent time, and default sets the current time as the departure time.The first route setting part 301 sets the destination input from theuser via the input unit 35.

It should be noted that the first route setting part 301 can prompt thedeparture position to be input from the user via the input unit 35 inplace of the current position that is default set. In addition, it ispossible to prompt the departure time to be input from the user via theinput unit 35 in place of the current time that is default set.

The first route setting part 301 sends the positional informationserving as the departure position, coordinate information of thedestination and departure time to the navigation server 1 via thewireless unit 32.

The facility genre setting part 302 displays the first route serving asthe optimum route from the departure position to the destinationreceived from the navigation server 1 to be superimposed on a road map,via the display unit 34.

The facility genre setting part 302 displays to the user a genre list offacilities located in the vicinity on the first route via the displayunit 34, and prompts to select the genre of facilities at which the userwants to stop while traveling the first route. The facility genresetting part 302 sends the facility genre selected by the user to thenavigation server 1 via the wireless unit 32.

It should be noted that the facility genre setting part 302 can promptthe user to input how far away a distance range from a point on thefirst route to set the vicinity on the first route. In this case, thefacility genre setting part 302 sends the distance range input by theuser along with the facility genre selected by the user to thenavigation server 1 via the wireless unit 32.

The facility setting part 303 displays a plurality of candidate facilityinformation located in the vicinity on the first route, includingfacility information relating to all facilities belonging to the genreselected by the user located in the vicinity on the first route and theexpected arrival time at the facility, for every time span of theexpected arrival time, to be scrollable to the user via the display unit34. It should be noted that the facility setting part 303 displaysdetailed information of goods and services contents provided at thefacility in response to the instruction of the user.

The facility setting part 303 prompts the user to select a facility atwhich the user wants to stop while traveling on the first route, and toinput a staying time at the facility. The facility setting part 303sends the facility selected by the user and staying time at the facilityto the navigation server 1 via the wireless unit 32.

The route guidance part 304 performs route guidance following the routeset by the user.

The storage unit 31 is configured by semiconductor memory, etc., andstores the operating system (OS) and respective programs for routeguidance, and further, a variety of information such as map informationand positional information. It should be noted that it may be aconfiguration that acquires map information from the navigation server1, in addition to storing in the storage unit 31.

The wireless unit 32 has a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), etc., isconnected to a mobile telephone network, and is configured to be able toperform wireless communication through a wireless base station (notillustrated), and perform wireless communication with a server such as atraffic information center or navigation server 1. The wireless unit 32can receive data such as map information and traffic controlinformation, for example, from such servers.

The sensor unit 33 makes it possible for the electronic device 3 tograsp the current position by way of a GPS sensor or gyro sensor. Thesensor unit 33 includes a function as a position detection means fordetecting the current position, receives GPS satellite signals by way ofa GPS receiver (not illustrated), and measures the current position(latitude and longitude) of the electronic device 3. In addition, byincluding a gyro sensor, magnetic field sensor, etc., it possible tomeasure the current position of the electronic device 3 by autonomousnavigation, and in the case of the GPS receiver not being able tomeasure position based on GPS satellite signals, it is possible tomeasure the current position in place of this.

In addition, in the case of GPS communication being impossible, it ispossible to use AGPS (Assisted Global Positioning System) communicationto calculate the current position of the electronic device 3 accordingto the base station information acquired from the wireless unit 32.

The display unit 34 is configured by a display device such as a liquidcrystal display or organic EL panel, and receives instructions from thecontrol unit 30 to display images. The display unit 34 displays routeinformation and facility information transmitted from the navigationserver 1 and map information.

The input unit 35 consists of an input device such as physical switchescalled a numeric keypad and/or a touch panel (not illustrated) providedto overlap the display screen of the display unit 34, and outputs asignal based on depression of the numeric keypad and touching of thetouch panel by the user to the control unit 30.

(Facility Server)

The facility itself includes a server, and performs informationprovision relating to the goods or services of the facility, officeprocessing relating to goods and reservation of services, billingprocessing such as an agent charge at the time of reserving orpurchasing of goods or services, etc. The server possessed by thefacility itself in this way is referred to as the facility server 4.

In the case of the facility including the facility server 4, it performsdata communication with the facility information server 2 to synchronizewith data relating to information related to goods and services providedby the facility server 4, reservation information, vacancy information,coupon issuance information, etc.

It should be noted that, by using the functions of the facilityinformation server 2, the facility does not necessarily need to furnishthe facility server 4.

In the foregoing, an embodiment of the respective functional parts ofthe navigation system 100 of the present invention are explained basedon the configurations of the navigation server 1, facility informationserver 2, electronic device 3 and facility server 4. However, theembodiment of the respective functional units included by the navigationserver 1, facility information server 2 and facility server 4 can bedeveloped so as to execute by one computer, or by distributing between aplurality of computers at a single location or distributed at severallocations and interconnected by a communication network. In addition, itis also possible to configure using a plurality of virtual computers ona cloud.

In the case of decentralized processing by a plurality of computers, therespective functions possessed by the navigation server 1, facilityinformation server 2 and facility server 4 can be executed by any of thecomputers. Therefore, a skilled person can appropriately design to whichcomputer the respective functions possessed by the navigation server 1,facility information server 2 and facility server 4 are assigned.

(Operation of Navigation System 100)

In the foregoing, the configuration of the navigation system 100 isexplained. Next, the operation of the navigation system 100 will beexplained. FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are flowcharts showing the flow ofprocessing of the navigation system 100, and FIG. 5A to FIG. 5G aredisplay examples of navigation screens displayed on the display device 3accompanying this processing.

First, route information search processing will be explained byreferencing FIG. 4A.

In Step S101, the electronic device 3 starts a program for routeguidance, and sends a route information search start request (loginrequest) to the navigation server 1, based on a user ID and passwordinput.

In Step S201, the navigation server 1 activates the first routecalculation part 101, based on the route information search startrequest received from the electronic device 3. The activated first routecalculation part 101 sends input requests for departure position,destination and departure time to the electronic device 3 via thecommunication unit 12.

In Step S102, the first route setting part 301 of the electronic device3 displays to the user via the display unit 34 the input requests fordeparture position, destination and departure time received from thenavigation server 1. The first route setting part 301 specifies thecurrent position (latitude and longitude) using the sensor unit 33, andinitially sets the current position as the departure position. The firstroute setting part 301 specifies a current time, and initially sets thecurrent time as the departure time. The first route setting part 301sets the destination input by the user via the input unit 35.

It should be noted that the first route setting part 301 can replace thecurrent position initially set by prompting the user to input thedeparture position via the input unit 35. In addition, it is possible toreplace the current time initially set by prompting the user to inputthe departure time via the input unit 35.

In Step S103, the first route setting part 301 sends the positionalinformation serving as the departure position, coordinate information ofthe destination and departure time to the navigation server 1.

In Step S202, the first route calculation part 101 of the navigationserver 1 calculates first route information serving as the optimum routefrom the departure position to the destination, using the mapinformation saved in the storage unit 11, based on the positionalinformation serving as the departure position, coordinate information ofthe destination and departure time received from the electronic device3.

In Step S203, the first route calculation part 101 sends the calculatedfirst route information to the electronic device 3 via the communicationunit 12.

It should be noted that, in Step S202, the first route calculation part101 may be configured so as to calculate a plurality of routes from thedeparture position to the destination, send a plurality of routes to theelectronic device 3, prompt the user to select from the plurality ofroutes, and determine the selected route of the user as the first routeinformation.

In Step S104, the facility genre setting part 302 of the electronicdevice 3 displays the first route information received from thenavigation server 1 via the display unit 34 to be superimposed on a roadmap.

In Step S105, the facility genre setting part 302 determines whether ornot there is a list display request of facility genres from the user. Inthe case of there being a list display request of facility genres (YES),the processing advances to Step S106. In the case of there not being alist display request of facility genres (NO), the processing advances toStep S113.

In Step S106, the facility genre setting part 302 displays to the user afacility genre selection screen displaying a genre list of facilitieslocated in the vicinity on the first route via the display unit 34according to an instruction of the user.

An example of a display screen of the first route information displayedon the electronic device 3 is shown in FIG. 5A. The facility genresetting part 302 displays a facility genre selection screen like thatshown in FIG. 5B, for example, when “+” is pressed by the user in FIG.5A. It should be noted that, although not illustrated in FIG. 5A andFIG. 5B, in the case of “facility genre skip” being pressed, theprocessing advances to Step S113.

In Step S107, the facility genre setting part 302 determines whether ornot a desired facility genre has been selected by the user. In the caseof a desired facility genre having been selected (YES), the processingadvances to Step S108. In the case of there not being a list displayrequest of facility genres (NO), the processing advances to Step S113.

It should be noted that the user can set in advance the genres to bedisplayed on the facility genre selection screen of FIG. 5B. Whenreferencing FIG. 5G, genre candidates are displayed, and the user canselect genres displayed on the genre selection screen of FIG. 5B.

In Step S108, the facility genre setting part 302 sends the facilitygenre selected by the user to the navigation server 1.

It should be noted that, although not illustrated in FIG. 5B, thefacility genre setting part 302 can prompt the user to input how faraway a distance range from a point on the first route to set thevicinity on the first route. In this case, the facility genre settingpart 302 sends the distance range input by the user along with thefacility genre selected by the user to the navigation server 1.

In Step S204, the facility search part 102 of the navigation server 1designates the first route information and the facility genreinformation selected by the user in the facility extraction part 201 ofthe facility information server 2, and sends an extraction request forcandidate facility information, via the connection interface unit 13.

It should be noted that, in the case of there being an instruction forthe distance range from the user (not illustrated in FIG. 5B), thefacility search part 102 sends the distance range combined with thefirst route information and the facility genre information selected bythe user to the facility information server 2, via the connectioninterface unit 13.

In Step S301, based on the first route information and facility genreinformation selected by the user received from the navigation server 1,the facility extraction part 201 of the facility information server 2extracts facility information of all facilities belonging to the genre,located in the vicinity on the first route using the facilityinformation saved in the storage unit 11.

It should be noted that, in the case of there being a designation of thedistance range by the user, the facility extraction part 201 extractsthe facility information of all facilities belonging to the genre atwhich a short stop is possible from the nearest point located in thevicinity on the first route, based on this distance range.

In Step S302, the facility extraction part 201 calculates the expectedarrival time from the departure position for every extracted candidatefacility. Herein, the expected arrival time may be calculated using avalue set as a default value for the average vehicle speed.

In Step S303, the facility extraction part 201 sends facility relatedinformation in which the expected arrival time is attached to thefacility information for every candidate facility, to the navigationserver 1.

In Step S205, the facility search part 102 of the navigation server 1,when the facility related information is received from the facilityinformation server 2, groups a plurality of candidate facilityinformation located in the vicinity on the first route for every timespan of the expected arrival time.

It should be noted that, in place of Step S205, the electronic device 3may group the plurality of candidate facility information located in thevicinity on the first route for every time span of the expected arrivaltime, in Step S109 of the electronic device 3 described later.

In Step S206, the facility search part 102 sends, to the electronicdevice 3, the plurality of candidate facility information located in thevicinity on the first route grouped for every time span of the expectedarrival time.

In Step S109, the facility setting part 303 of the electronic device 3displays the plurality of candidate facility information located in thevicinity on the first route grouped for every time span of the expectedarrival time received from the navigation server 1 to the user to bescrollable for every time span of the expected arrival time via thedisplay unit 34.

An example of an output screen of a plurality of candidate facilityinformation grouped for every time span of the expected arrival timedisplayed via the display unit 34 is shown in FIG. 5C.

When referencing FIG. 5C, for every time span of the expected arrivaltime, the name and address of a candidate facility, expected arrivaltime, distance from the departure position, existence of coupons,congestion information, payment method, etc. are displayed. Bypresenting the user with information of a facility (coupons, congestionfactor) in this way, the user is easily introduced to a facility.

It should be noted that the facility setting part 303 may display a fewcandidate facilities for ever time span, and display as “othercandidates” for the remaining candidate facilities, as shown in FIG. 5C.In this case, by the user selecting “other candidates”, the facilitysetting part 303 displays all of the candidate facility information tobe scrollable. It should be noted that the facility setting part 303 maybe configured so as to display all candidate facility information forevery time span to be scrollable from the beginning.

The facility setting part 303 scrolls the display in response to ascroll operation of the user.

In the case of the user wanting to know details of the goods andservices contents provided by a certain facility, the facility settingpart 303 displays detailed information like that shown in FIG. 5D inresponse to the user depressing inside a box (excluding an “add”button), displayed of the facility information, for example.

In the case of the facility genre being restaurant, it is preferable fordetailed information of coupons, a menu list provided by the restaurantand reputation information of the restaurant to be displayed as thedetailed information.

In Step S110, the facility setting part 303 determines whether or notthe user has selected a facility. In the case of the user havingselected a facility (YES), the processing advances to Step S111. In thecase of not being selected, the processing advances the Step S113.

It should be noted that in the case of there not being a preferredfacility to select for the user, a repeat search of the first route maybe performed according to an instruction of the user.

In Step S111, the facility setting part 303 displays a screen forinputting a staying time at the selected facility.

When referencing FIG. 5C or FIG. 5D, for example, the facility settingpart 303 displays a staying time input screen like that shown in FIG.5E, in response to the user pressing an “add” button inside the box,displayed of the facility information. On this occasion, although notillustrated, it is possible to input reservation information and paymentinformation as necessary.

In Step S112, the facility setting part 303 sends a facility selected bythe user and staying time at the facility to the navigation server 1. Itshould be noted that, in the case of reservation information or paymentinformation being inputted, the facility setting part 303 sends theinputted reservation information and payment information to thenavigation server 1 according to the facility selected by the user andstaying time at the facility.

In Step S207, with the facility selected by the user and staying time atthe facility received from the electronic device 3 as added conditions,the second route calculation part 103 of the navigation server 1calculates the second route using map information saved in the storageunit 11, based on the departure position, destination, coordinateinformation of the facility selected by the user, staying time at thefacility, etc.

Herein, second route is a route produced taking account of a short stopat a facility located in the vicinity on the first route selected by theuser and the staying time.

In Step S208, the second route calculation part 103 sends second routeinformation, including the expected arrival time at the facility locatedin the vicinity on the first route selected by the user and the stayingtime, to the electronic device 3 via the communication unit 12.

In Step S209, the second route calculation part 103 sends a registrationrequest to My Page of the user, related to the facility registered as astopping point on the second route by the user, to the facilityinformation server 2.

It should be noted that, in the case of receiving reservationinformation and payment information by a user from the electronic device3, the second route calculation part 103 sends the reservationinformation and payment information to the facility information server 2in combination with the registration request to My Page of the user.

In Step S304, the facility information registration part 202 of thefacility information server 2 registers, in My Page for every user ofthe storage unit 21, facilities registered as stopping points on thesecond route received from the navigation server 1.

In Step S305, the facility information registration part 202 performsreservation processing based on reservation information from the userreceived from the navigation server 1. It should be noted that, in thecase of the facility including a facility server 4, the facility server4 corresponding to the facility is accessed via the communication unit22 as necessary, and reservation processing is performed.

The facility information registration part 202 stores coupon useinformation, etc. in My Page for every user of the storage unit 21, forexample, when reservation processing for the registered facilitycompletes.

It should be noted that it is possible to display coupon use history,for example, as shown in FIG. 5F, as the information stored in My Pagefor every user.

By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to browse an estimatedmoney amount that could be saved by the user using the coupon.

In Step S306, the facility information registration part 202 performsbilling processing such as an agent charge as necessary, accompanyingreservation processing at the registered facility, etc.

In Step S113, the route guidance part 304 of the electronic device 3starts route guidance by displaying route guidance on the display unit34 according to the second route information received from thenavigation server 1.

It should be noted that, in the case of a facility genre not having beendesignated in Step S105 or Step S107, the route guidance part 304 startsroute guidance by displaying route guidance on the display unit 34according to the first route information received from the navigationserver 1.

It should be noted that, after route guidance starts, in the case suchas a big delay in the expected arrival time at the selected facilityoccurring for reasons such as a traffic jam, it may be done again fromsearching of the first route.

(Modified Example)

In the foregoing, the navigation system 100 of the first embodiment isexplained. The electronic device according to the first embodiment wasimplemented as the electronic device 3; however, as another embodiment,it is possible to implement the electronic device as an on-boardnavigation device equipped to a vehicle.

In addition, the servers according to the first embodiment areimplemented as the decentralized servers of the navigation server 1 andfacility information server 2; however, as another embodiment, it ispossible to implement as one server.

In addition, the servers according to the present embodiment areimplemented as a decentralized system configured from the two servers ofthe navigation server 1 and the facility information server 2; however,as another embodiment, it may be configured as a decentralizedprocessing system that distributes the respective functions (forexample, the functions of step units illustrated in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B)of the navigation server 1 and facility information server 2 to aplurality of servers as appropriate. In addition, the respectivefunctions of the navigation server 1 and the facility information server2 may be realized using virtual server functions, etc. on a cloudserver.

The following such effects are exerted according to the navigationsystem 100 explained in the foregoing.

(1) With the navigation system 100 of the above-mentioned embodiment,the facility setting part 303 of the electronic device 3 displaysfacility information of all facilities belonging to the genre selectedby the user located in the vicinity on the first route and the expectedarrival time at the facility received from the navigation server 1, forevery time span of the expected arrival time, via the display unit 34 tobe scrollable.

It is thereby possible for the electronic device 3 to present morefacilities extending over different time spans to the user, forfacilities existing on a searched route, upon the user performingnavigation (route guidance) using the electric device 3. The user canselect a preferred facility from the more options, and the satisfactionof the user improves by registering as a relay point (stopping point) ona route to the destination.

(2) According to the electronic device 3 of the above-mentionedembodiment, for facilities located in the vicinity on the first route tothe destination, it is possible for the electronic device 3 to presentto the user more facilities extending over different time spans. Theuser can select a preferred facility from more options, and a secondroute registering this as a relay point (stopping point) on a route tothe destination can be displayed.

The satisfaction of the user is thereby improved since a preferredfacility and preferred time span are selected from the facilitiesexisting on the searched route, and with the facility selected by theuser on the route to the destination as a relay point (stopping point),second route information is presented to arrive in the time spanselected by the user, upon the user performing navigation (routeguidance) using the electronic device 3.

(3) According to the navigation server 1 and facility information server2 of the above-mentioned embodiment, it is possible to provide a serviceto the electronic device 3 communicably connected with the navigationserver 1 whereby, for facilities located in the vicinity on the firstroute to the destination, more facilities extending over different timeperiods are presented, and a second route is displayed in which afacility selected by the user is registered as a relay point (stoppingpoint) on the route to the destination.

The satisfaction of the user is thereby improved since the navigationserver 1 presents facilities existing on the first route extending overtime spans to the electronic device 3, and presents second routeinformation in which a facility selected by the user is registered as arelay point (stopping point) on the route to the destination, upon theuser performing navigation (route guidance) using the electronic device3 communicably connected with the navigation server 1.

In the foregoing, preferred embodiments of the present invention areexplained; however, the present invention is not to be limited to theaforementioned embodiments, and modifications thereto are possible whereappropriate.

What is claimed is:
 1. A navigation system comprising: an electronicdevice that performs navigation from a departure position to adestination; and a server that is communicably connected with theelectronic device, wherein the server includes: a storage unit thatstores facility information; a facility search unit that searches, fromamong facilities located within a predetermined distance from a point ona first route from a departure position to a destination, for a facilitybelonging to a genre received from the electronic device, using thefacility information saved in the storage unit, calculates an expectedarrival time for all facilities found, and sends the facilityinformation of the facility belonging to the genre and the expectedarrival time to the electronic device; and a second route calculationunit that calculates second route information from the departureposition to the destination that registers a facility selected by a userand received from the electronic device as a relay point, and sends thesecond route information to the electronic device, and wherein theelectronic device includes: a display unit; a facility genre settingunit that sends a genre selected by the user to the server; a facilitysetting unit that displays facility information of all facilitiesbelonging to the genre that are located within the predetermineddistance from the point on the first route, received from the server,wherein, in a case in which time required from a departure position to adestination is greater than a threshold time, the facility setting unitsets a plurality of time spans so as to lengthen each time span, anddisplays facility information of the facilities based on the expectedarrival time, for each of the plurality of time spans, via the displayunit to be scrollable; and a route guidance unit that displays thesecond route information from the departure position to the destinationreceived from the server in which the facility selected by the user isregistered as a relay point on the display unit.
 2. An electronic devicethat performs navigation from a departure position to a destination, theelectronic device comprising: a display unit; a facility genre settingunit that displays first route information from the departure positionto the destination on the display unit, and sends to a servercommunicably connected with the electronic device, a genre of facilitiesinput by a user; a facility setting unit that displays facilityinformation of all facilities belonging to the genre, located within apredetermined distance from a point on the first route, received fromthe server wherein, in a case in which time required from a departureposition to a destination is greater than a threshold time, the facilitysetting unit sets a plurality of time spans so as to lengthen each timespan, and displays facility information of the facilities based on theexpected arrival time, for each of the plurality of time spans, via thedisplay unit to be scrollable, and sends a facility selected by the userfrom among a plurality of facilities to the server; and a route guidanceunit that displays second route information from the departure positionto the destination received from the server in which the facilityselected by the user is registered as a relay point, on the displayunit.
 3. A navigation method by an electronic device including a controlunit and a display unit, the navigation method comprising the steps ofthe control unit: displaying first route information from a departureposition to a destination on the display unit, and sending a genre offacilities input by a user to a server communicably connected with theelectric device; scrollably displaying, via the display unit, facilityinformation of all facilities belonging to the genre located within apredetermined distance from a point on the first route received from theserver, and in a case in which time required from a departure positionto a destination is greater than a threshold time, setting a pluralityof time spans so as to lengthen each time span, and displaying facilityinformation of the facilities based on the expected arrival time, foreach of the plurality of time spans, and sending a facility selected bythe user from among a plurality of the facilities to the server; anddisplaying second route information from the departure position to thedestination received from the server in which a facility selected by theuser is registered as a relay point, on the display unit.